Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Freaks and Geeks, Diabetes had nothing to do with it!

OK- It's been a few days since my last blog, recovering from the whole holiday and catching up with friends and family thing.

OK get this: I went to a High School class reunion After Party at the Borgota Casino in Atlantic City this past weekend. Not my H.S. reunion - that was in October, but the other local high school in my hometown. Let me preface this story with the fact that I'd grown up in a small beach town and that my parents had sent me to a Catholic High School 13 miles from the where I grew up. 90% of the people I had gone to kindergarten through 8th grade with had gone to Atlantic City High, and I hadn't talked with most of them since. I was a crasher for sure, but technically I was invited thanks to my old friend from back in the day, Jami. She and I had recently reconnected, and Jami (as well and a few other old friends) had given me both an invite and the courage to attend. I decided to go and check out memory lane. The last time I 'd seen these people the girls had been taller than almost all the boys and and no one had heard of Madonna - as in the performer, not the heavenly images holding the Christ Child in Italian Renaissance paintings

Thinking back to those days, I was so insecure about absolutely everything. My looks; my hair, my clothes, the craziness that was my family, AND the fact that I had diabetes. Diabetes made me different and I hated it. I wanted to be tall and pretty and be able to eat as many chocolate cookies as I wanted. I mean seriously, what adolesent wants to have a spotlight on them because of a medical issue?? Not me. I used humor to disarm my classmates when it came to my diabetes and myself. If I could make them laugh with me instead of at me when it came to the "Big D", then I wouldn't be such a social outcast. At least, not because of the diabetes. The wardrobe, glasses, and lack of grace, yes, but not my diabetes. ;)

Talking with these folks who I hadn't spoken with in 25 years made realize a few things.Yes, they all remembered my diabetes, but more importantly they remembered and pointed out what good kid I was. Nice to those who needed it, funny and quick witted, and cuter then I ever thought. Personally, I thought I resembled Alfalfa (with long hair) from "The Little Rascals"during my middle school years. But my old classmate Jason pointed out to me that " I was pretty girl with an 80's hairdo, like the rest of our classmates."Back then, each and everyone of us was insecure about a variety of different things and each of us brought our self doubt with us to school everyday.We were all so focused on what our own problems (like parents divorcing or money issues, diabetes, asthma, drug addicted siblings, and not having the right designer jeans to wear,etc) that none of us realized that everybody had issues.My diabetes was my "issue," my classmates were great with it. I was the one who had a problem with it. Each one of us dealt with things that nobody else even considered.No longer were we divided into the "cool kids" and the 'freaks and Geeks" We were men and women who had grown into adults with careers and accomplishments, both personal and professional. Some had families, others had medical issues, many had both, and all of us lived to tell our tales.We came from the same small town and had known each other since childhood.We'd survived the first day of kindergarten; the fashions of the 70's, the hairdo's from the 80's, friendship breakups and makeups, our first game of spin the bottle and first broken hearts, and everything else in between. I had a blast and I'm glad that I had the opportunity reconnect with my past.

But y'know, Kelly, I saw you everyday throughout 4 yrs of highschool and I didn't know you were diabetic then --- but then I didn't know what diabetes was (...and I'm sure most kids felt the same way), ... that is til I myself became one a few yrs ago.

BTW...Our wardrobe sucked because we had to wear that stupid uniform. I (and at least a few guys) went a step further to be cool by folding and rolling the pants at the bottom a bit. Don't laugh, it was cool at the time.... gee, I remember you girls sticking out the shirt collars straight up outside the sweater, while 'volumizing' your hair with a load of ozone-depleting chemicals and/or Depp.

Early 80's designer jeans were awful.OK, I admit, I got heavily into the mid-80's Guess, Bugle Boy and the late-80's Girbaud + Cavariccithat had logos right at the crotch. That's pretty much what I wore outsideh.s. and in college. Sue me.Acid-wash. Shoot me. But none is as horrendousas the 90's "Hammer pants" or the Grundge-era xtra-baggy"shorts" that go below the knees... I hope you never got into those disastrous faux pas. (I didn't).

Lauren's Hope

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What People Are Saying About Kelly Kunik's Diabetesalicious Humor

"I laughed so hard I puked all over my pump -Just kidding......

Kelly's intimate knowledge of living with diabetes makes her the perfect person to poke fun at all of our little eccentricities. If laughter really is the best medicine, then Kelly should be nominated for Sturgeon General."Gary Scheiner - Certified Diabetes Educator, Owner & Operator of Integrated Diabetes Services, Author of "You Can Control Diabetes" and "How to Think Like A Pancreas."Marx Brothers Fan for life, T1 for 20 years .

"Kelly Kunik performed her Diabetes Comedy Act at the Diabetes, Exercise, & Sports Association (DESA) National meeting in Colorado Springs in June of 2007. She had the room laughing all night! It was great to see the light side of Diabetes for once...."

Rick Philbin, Type 1, Board of Directors, DESA

"Kelly was very engaging with her humor and positive attitude in looking at life with Diabetes on a lighter side. Everyone in my Diabetes Support group lowered their glucose levels with laughter that evening!"

Bryony Crane, RD CDE

Virtua Diabetes and Nutrition Svs

"Dr. Kelly keeps you laughing.......Great bedside manner!"

Boston Charlie - T1 30 years

"As a Diabetes Educator, I'm always looking for new ways to help patients. Kelly Kunik offers a unique way of educating patients through laughter.There's a tremendous validation in Kelly's approach - Everybody thinks that no one once else has diabetes related issues, day & day out. Whether it getting your tubing caught on a door nob; acting out with a low blood sugar, or dealing with the same old questions. Silly or serious, Kelly's observations allow patients to feel better about themselves.When people feel good about themselves, they practice betterself management. IT'S ALL GOOD.We all had so much fun the night Kelly spoke to my Type 1 support group."